Reconstruction needs more plasterers – just don’t mention the wall …

Reconstruction in London

The whole of the organisation of the building industry in London is affected by the large percentage of the industry that is engaged upon bomb damage work. The men so employed are working partly under local builders and partly under builders from other parts of the country that have come to London with their men.

Those most closely in touch with the output of this large labour force cannot but be disturbed at the slow progress made, and realise that it cannot solely be the result of the understandably tired atmosphere that six years of war have produced. Since this slow progress must have its repercussions on all types of building work it it desirable that we should examine the causes of the delay and possibly causes of the lack of organisation.

The first feature that is evident is the difficulty in obtaining plasterers. It is understandable that the operative plasterers view with hesitation a vast expansion of the plastering union to cover demand. But this has, unfortunately, been interpreted partly in terms of high cost of plastering items, and both men and employers are apparently earning substantial sums. It has become desirable to augment the plasterers needed and also to adjust the high earnings of the privileged master plasterer and his operative.

To some extent the plasterer is dictating the speed at which other trades can operate, and therefore appreciable repercussions are taking place with adjacent craftsmen. It is often difficult to declare a property finished that still needs priming and one or two coats of paint on new woodwork, and its elementary coat of distemper on walls and ceilings.